Car-coupling.



PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

W. MGCONWAY, JB.

CAR CUPLING.

A-PPLIUATION FILED 00111, 1904.

W. m W W l'forney PATBNTBD APR. 25, 1905.

W. MOGONWAY, Jn.

CAR COUPLING APPLICATION FILED 0011.11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.UWE/WOR I I um.

Patented April 2.5, 1905.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'VILLIAM MGCONVAY, JR., OF IITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIG-NOR TO TIIE MCCONWAY Se 'lOIiLEY COMPANY, OF PlVFSBURG, PENNSYLVA- NIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,991, dated April 25, 1905. Application filed October ll, 1904. Serial No.. 228,051.

Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM BIoComvAY,

Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing' at Pittsburg', in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-(louplers; and I hereby declare the Vfollowing' to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same,

reference being' had to the accompanying' ro drawings, in which-- Fig'ure lis a plan view of a coupler cmbodying' my invention, the interior portions thereof being' shown in dotted lines. Fig'. 2 is a side elevation of the device. a portion of I5 the drawhead thereof beingbroken away and the lock-set and knuckle-opener member being removed. Fig'. 3 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of the outer face of the lock, the parts being' in locked or coupled re- 2O lation. Fig'. 4 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of the outer face of the lock` illustrating' the relative positions of the several parts when the lock is set or supported in an unlocked position prior to the opening' movement of the knuckle. Fig'. 5 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of the outcr face of the lock. the knuckle having' been opened by the kntickle-opening' mechanism. Fig'. (3 is a plan view of the knuckle. Fig. T isa side 3o elevation of the knuckle viewed from the guard-arm side of the coupler. Fig'. 8 is a vertical section of the lock in the plane of the lock-set release device, a portion of the locky set member being shown 1n supporting en- Fig'. t) 1s a vertical g'ag'ement with said lock.

section of the lock in the plane of the lockset release device. showing' the relative positions of the lock-set member and the lock-set release device when the former is forced out 40 of supporting` engagement with the lock by actuating' such lock-set release device. Fig'.

Il) is a horizontal section of the lock, taken on the line IO Il), Fig'. S.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of car-couplers of the vertical-plane or Janney type, and has for its object the production of a structure consistingof `few and simple parts which shall effectively support the lock or lnlucklc-locking' member in position to permit the subsequent opening' movement of the knuckle and which shall eject or open the knuckle when the latter free to rotate, the construction of the several elements of the device and the relative arrangement thereof being' such that a strong' rigid coupler is obtained in which the metal is efficiently disposed.

'Ihe invention, generally stated, embraces a lock-set and knucklc-opener member having' a detent-linger which in the normal or locked position of the parts is arranged ont of the path of movcmentof the lock and which gravitatcs or otherwise moves into supporting engagement with the lock to retain the latter in an unlocked position and in combination therewith a knuckle, the tailpiece whereofcoacts with said lock-set and knuckleopener member, whereby the detent-linger of the latter is caused to be disengaged from the lock to release the same upon the opening' movement of the knuckle, and a construction including' such a combination involves the main featurel of my invention.

'Iherc are other minor features of invention residing in particular combinations and elemental construction, all as will hereinafter more fully appear and be particularly pointed out in thc claims.

I will now proceed to describe my invention nore fully, so that others skilled in thc art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the d rawing's chosen to illustrate my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims, A is a coupler-110ml to which the knuckle B is pivotally attached by the usual knuckle-pin U, said draw-head A being' preferably provided with an opening' in the upper wall to permit the introduction of thc lock or locking-pin, I) and being' also provided with an opening' in the Hoor or lower wall of the coupler-head corresponding' substantially to the guide-linger or extension lll with which the lock l) is or may be provided.

'Ihe interior of the draw-head A at a point upon the floor thereof adjacent to the usual well-known opening in the side wall through which the hook portion of the knuckle-tail projects is preferably provided with an abutment l for the support of the lower end of the lock-set and knuckle-opener member E when the parts are in a locked position, said abutment l being inclined downwardly toward the lock, for a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear.

The lock D, which is preferably a verticallysliding pin guided in its locking and unlocking movements by the lock-openings in the upper and lower walls of the coupler-head A, is provided, if desired, with an extension or guide-finger 1l to aid in maintaining the proper relation of said lock with respect to the other parts of the device.

That face of the body portion of the lock D which is contiguous to the locking-face 3b of the knuckle B is provided at or near its lower end with an ear or lug 2d, preferably extending beyond the face of said lock, and also with a notch or pocket 3, adapted to receive a detent arm or finger of the lock-set and knuckle-opener member E; but, if desired, the said lug 2d and notch or pocket 3 may be otherwise formed or located on the locking-pin D.

The upper part of the body portion of the lock D is preferably formed with a verticallyextending bifurcating slot or channel 4d, which may, if desired, be broadened out within the interior of the lock, thus decreasing the weight of said lock. l/Vithin the channel or chamber thus formed are contained certain safety and emergency devices, such bifurcating slot or channel permitting the Jfacile introduction of the said devices and permitting their contact with the coupler-head, for a purpose and in a manner which will presently more fully ap'- pear. The lock D is also preferably provided with a lock-set release member or cam-slide d, having a cam-lug or enlarged portion 6d,

which when the said lock-set release device isV actuated is adapted to project into the notch 3d of the lock, and thus force the detent-finger 1e of the lock-set member E out of supporting engagement with said lock, said release member el being preferably housed within the lock in a slot or pocket which opens into the notch 3d and which also preferably communicates with the bifurcating slot or channel 4d for at least a portion of its length; but, if desired, such slot and such bifurcating channel may be made wholly independent.

Writhin the coupler-head A and preferably guided therein between vertical transverse walls is the member E, said member E being so loosely pivoted or secured to the couplerhead by a pin-and-slot or other suitable connection that it may gravitate or otherwise move into supporting engagement with the lock D when the latter is raised, and the slot of said pin-and-slot connection being preferably so enlarged with respect to the pin that the member E may have a limited movement in any direction in the plane of its operation. In order to retain the lock in position to permit the subsequent unlocking movement of the knuckle and for the purpose of providing a means by which the unlocking movement of the pin D may be transmitted through the lock-set and knuckle-opener member E to eject or open the knuckle, the said member E is provided at its upper end adjacent to the lock with suitable means-as, for example, a lug, projection, or detent-finger le, which when the lock Dis in unlocked position is adapted to engage the notch or socket 3d above the projecting ear or lug 2d, and thereby support the lock, the normal position of the said detent-finger le when the lock D is in locked position being preferably to one side and out of the path of movement of the said lock.

Upon the lock-set and knuckle-opener member E and at a point below and sufficiently removed from the detent-finger or lug 1E to permit the play of the ear 2d of the lock D is preferably formed a lug or trip-finger 2e, which depends in the path of the knuckle and by coacting with a suitable projection upon the knuckle during the opening movement thereof causes the detent-finger 1e to be disengaged from supporting engagement with the notch 3d of the lock D, the latter being thereafter supported upon a suitable shelf formed upon the knuckle-tail until such time as the knuckle is returned to a closed or locked position. The lock-set and knuckleopener member E is also provided with an arm 3e, which extends downwardly behind the knuckle on the side opposite the lock and which when the several parts are in the normal or locked position rests upon the abutment 1l of the coupler-head A, said arm 3 being preferably longer than the detent-finger lc in order that acomparatively slight movement of the lock D may communicate an extended opening movement to the knuckle B.

In lieu of the lock-set release member (l, the member E, if desired, may be also provided with an arm or extension extending outwardly through a suitable slot in the coupler-head, thus enabling the lock to be returned to a locked position after it has been set in an unlocked position and before the knuckle has been opened.

The knuckle B, which is pivotally secured to the coupler-head by the knuckle-pin C passing through the pivot-pin hole lb, has formed upon the upper surface of the tail thereof a projection 2b, which is preferably formed with inclined faces and which, upon an opening movement of the knuckle after the lock D is set or supported in an unlocked position, coacts with the trip-linger 2e of the member E to cause a rotation thereof, resulting in the release of the lock. Beyond the trip projection 2b the inner end of the tail of the IOS IIO

knuckle is provided with a lock-supporting shelf 5" of general wedge form, the outer border whereof is eccentric to the pivot-pin hole l, and this part of the tail of the knuckle is formed in such manner that an extended locking-face 3" or washer-like projection is provided for bearing upon the lock D, behind which a portion of the lock D stands when in locked position, and by reason of the eccentricity of the tail of the knuckle a larger wearing-surface is provided for that portion of the lock supporting shelf which receives the greatest wear, the leverage of the lock D about the knucklepin is increased, thus permitting a lig'hter lock to be used, and the hook portion i of the knuckle-tail is diminished in size, so that the usual opening' or socket of the head A, which such hook portion engages, is proportionately decreased, thereby increasing the strength of the coupler-head at this point.

Housed within the bifurcating channel 4 of the body portion of the locking member D is a lever or lifting' member F, which by engaging a portion of the coupler-head prevents accidental unlocking' of the coupler when the device is in service and which also serves to raise said lock to release the knuckle should the coupler be separated from its connection with the car to which it is attached, said member F being' preferably convexly curved toward the front of the coupler-head and provided on each side at or near its lower end with a boss, pintle, or pin I", which adapted to have sliding and pivotal or rotating engagement with inclined slots or guideways of the lock l), extending inwardly and upwardly from the rear face thereof, Vfor a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

(l is a clevis attached to the upper end of the member F, whereby connection may be made with the usual uncoupling-chain and uneoupling-lever; but, if desired, the member F may be omitted and the uncoupliiig-chain be attached directly to the lock D.

The construction being' substantially such as hereinl'iefore pointed out, the operation of the device will be as follows: Assuming' the several parts of the device to be in locked or coupled relation, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, an upward pull upon the clevis (i causes an upward movement of the attached member F independent of the lock D, the lower end of said member F being' thus withdrawn from eiigagement with the coupler-head. rhen the bosses l" finally engage the upper end of the inclined guideways 5 of the lock l), the said lock l) and member F rise coextensively until the notch 3" of the former is brought into register with the dctent-l'inger lc of the lockset and knuckle-opener member E, when the latter gravitates or otherwise nieves toward the lock and the said detent-linger lc thereof enters the notch 3". lf now the knuc- 'kle be not free to rotate and the upward pull upon the clevis be released, the several parts will be in the relation shown in Fig. el, and the lock D will be retained in an unlocked position bythe supporting engagement of the detent-finger l", such relative position of the parts being' maintained by reason of the fact that the knuckle-opener arm or ling'er 3e of the member E bears against the wall of the coupler-head and prevents such member E from being' rotated out of su pporting engagement with said lock. lf the knuckle B be now subsequently opened by the separation of the cars or in other manner, the trip-linger Q of member E will be engaged bythe inclined trip projection 2 upon the upper surface of the knuckle-tail, and thedetent-linger lc will be rotated out of supporting engag'ement with the notch 3 of the lock l), the latter being dropped upon the loclvsupporting shelf 5" of the knuckle, which at this time has passed beneath the lower end of the body portion of the lock. During this opening movement of the knuckle the knuckle-opener linger 3e moves down the incline of the abutment l of the coupler-head, being permitted to do so by the enlarged slot at the upper end of memberE, and thus the attendant rising ofthe lock l) is decreased. 'lhe knuckle B now being' open and the lock D seated upon the lock-supporting shelf 5, a closing movement of the lknuckle will cause the rear incline of the trip projection 2" to engage the trip-linger 2 of member E and to raise it slightlvuntil such trip projection 2" of the knuckle has passed under, when the knuckle-opener linger 3 is forced onto its seat or abutment l" and the trip-linger 2" rcturns to a position between such trip projection of the knuckle and the lock D, and the. parts are in locked or normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. lf the knuckle B is free to open when the detent-linger lU engages the notch 3 of the lock l), as heretoforedescribed, a continued upward pull upon the lock l) will cause the projecting ear or lug 2" thereof to rotate the member .IC through the agency of the detent lug or ling'er l, and consequently will cause the lmuckle-opcner linger 3" to rotate the knuckle outward, so that by thus lifting' the lock the knuckle may be fully opened, as shown in Fig. The upward pull being now released, the lock will seat itself upon the lock-supporting shelf 5" of the knuckle and will be retained thereon until the knuckle is returned to a locked position, which occurs in the same manner as heretofore described. Should it be desired to return the lock l) toa locked position after it has been brought to an unlocked position and before it has been released from the supporting engagement ol the lockset member E by the opening movement of the knuckle, the same may be accomplished by an upward movement of the camslide or lock-set release member d, causing the lower portion 6 thereof to force the detentlinger l of the said lock-set member VE out of IOO TIO

supporting engagement with'said lock. Vhenever the lock has been returned to a locked position, the continued downward movement of the member F causes its lower end to be projected under a shoulder on the couplerhead, and by reason of the inclination of the slots or notches 5d, with which the bosses or pins lI engage, any tendency to an upward movement of the lock D causes such member F to more surely engage the coupler-head, and thereby to prevent any accidental unlocking movement of the lock. Should the coupler be pulled out of' its connections with the car, the pull of the uncoupIing-chain upon the clevis G first causes the retraction o'tl the lower end of the member F from beneath the shoulder of the coupler-head, with which it engages. The lock D is then raised to unlocked position and the knuckle opened as the coupler is pulled forward, the member F emerging' through the bifurcating slot 4d in the rear of the lock and sliding over the inner edge of the lock-opening in the upper wall of the coupler-head in such manner as to have a shifting fulcrum thereon, the curved character of' the emergency releaser member F permitting the lock to be easily brought to an unlocked position as the coupler is pulled forward relatively to the car-bod y.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a lock-set and knuckle-opener member having a detent-finger arranged out of the path of movement of the lock when the latter is in locked position and adapted to move into engagement with and to retain said lock in unlocked position when the knuckle is in locked position, and means whereby said lock is released f'rom said lock-set and knuckle-opener member upon the opening movement of' said knuckle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock f'or said knuckle, and a member having a trip-finger and a detent-finger thereon, said detent-finger arranged out of' the path ofl movement of the lock when the latter is in locked position and adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock and said trip-finger adapted to coact with said knuckle upon an opening movement of' the lat-ter to release said lock from said detent-finger, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a member having a trip-finger, a detent-finger and a knuckle-opener arm, said detent-finger arranged out ot' the path of movement of the lock when the latter is in locked position and adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock, said trip-finger adapted to coact with said knuckle upon an opening movement of the latter to release said lock from said detent-finger, and said knuckleopener arm adapted to coact with said detentfinger to open said knuckle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a member loosely mounted in the coupler-head and adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock, and a projection upon the tail of said knuckle adapted to disengage said loosely-mounted member from supporting engagement with said lock upon an opening movement of said knuckle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of` a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a lock-set and knuckle-opener member having a detent-finger arranged out of the path of' movement of the lock when the latter is in locked position and adapted to move into supporting engagement with saidv lock and to be disengaged from said lock upon an opening movement of said knuckle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a lock-set and knuckle-opener member adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock and to have a movement in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of' a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a lock-set and knuckle-opener member having a pin-and-slot connection with said coupler-head adapted to permit movement ofE said lock-set and kn uckle-opener member in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a knuckle-opener member adapted to move into engagement with said lock and to have a movement in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a knuckle-opener member having` a pin-and-slot connection with said couplerhead adapted to permit movement of said knuckle-opener member in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and the purposes specified.

10. In a car-coupler, the combination with a knuckle, of a lock for said knuckle, and a lock-set member adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock and to have a movement in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

IOO

ITO

il. In a ear-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a lock-set member adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock and having' a pin-and-slot connection with said coupler-head adapted to permit movement of said lock-set member in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l2. VIn a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and a lock-set member, said lastnamed member having a trip-finger, a detentfinger and means adapted to Vform a pin-andslot connection with the coupler-head whereby said lock-set member may have movement in any direction in the plane of its operation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. ln a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a lock-set and knuckle-opener member having' a detent-finger arrang'ed out of the path of movement of the lock when the latter is in locked position and adapted to moveinto supporting' engagement with said lock, and means independent of said lock set and k n uckleopener member for releasing said lock from such supporting' engagement, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

1f. ln a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-heath of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a loek-setand knuckle-opener member having'a detent-fing'er arranged out of the path of movement of the lock when the latter is in locked position and adapted to moveinto engagement with and to retain said lock in unlocked position when the knuckle is in locked position, means whereby said lock is released Vfrom said lock-set and knuckle-opener I member upon the opening' movement of said knuckle, and means whereby saidlock may be released from said lock-set and knuckle-opener member independently of the movement of said knuckle., substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

15. A knuckle for vertical-plane car-couplers, said knuckle having a projection on the upper surface of the tail thereot` and a substantially wedgeshaped shelf beyond the same, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

16. A knuckle for vertical-plane car-couplers, said knuckle having' a knuckle-pin hole, an inclined projection on the upper surface of the tail thereof, and a shelf having' its outer border eccentric to the knuckle-pin hole, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

1T. A knuckle for vertical-plane car-couplers, said knuckle having' a knuckle-pin hole, a projection upon the upper surface of the tail thereof, a hook portion, and a lockingface extending a greater distance radially from the knuckle-pin holel than does said hook portion, substantially as and Yfor the purposes specified.

l l i 18. A knuckle for vertical-plane car-coup-` lers, said knuckle having a projection upon the upper portion of the tail thereof and a shelf beyond the same, substantially as and `for the purposes specified.

19. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and emergency releaser means comprising a curved lever having' pintlesadapted to eng'ag'e said lock, substantially as and Yfor the purposes specified.

2f). In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-heini, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle having' a bi furcating channel therein, and a curved lever housed within said channel and provided with pintles adapted to engage said lock, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

Q1. ln a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and emergency rcleaser means adapted to engage a portion of the coupler-head to preventaccidental unlockingof said lock, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

1n a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, and an emergency rcleaserlever adapted to pivotally engage said lock within the coupler-head and to engage a portion of the coupler-head to prevent accidental unlocking' of said lock, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ln a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-hea l, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle having a bifurcating'channcl and provided with inclined guideways, and a curved lever housed within said channel and provided with means Vfor engaging' the inclined g'uideways of said lock, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

Q4. YIn a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle having' a bifurcating' channel and provided with inclined g'uideways, and a curved lever housed within said channel and provided with pintles adapted to eng'age the inclined g'uideways of said lock within the couplerhead, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

25. YIn a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a lock-set member adapted to move into supporting engagement with said lock, and means housed within said lock for releasing' the latter from such supporting' engagement of said lock-set member, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

Q6. In a carcoupler, the combination with a coupler-hezul, of a knuckle, a lock lfor said knuckle, a lock-set member adapted to move into engagement with and to retain said lock in unlocked position when the knuckle is in locked position, means whereby said lock is released from said lock-set member upon the opening' movement ofsaid knuckle, and means IOO IXO

ho used Within said lock for releasing the latter from said lock-set member independently of the movement of said knuckle, substantially as and for the purposes specied.

27. In a car-coupler, the combination With a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a lock-set member adapted tosupportingly engage said lock, and a cam-slide for releasing said lock from such supporting engagement of said lock-set member, substantially as and for the purposes specilied.

28. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, a lock-set member adapted to supportingly engage said look, and a cam-slide housed Within said lock for releasing the latter from such supporting engagement of said lock-set member, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

29. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle provided with a pocket adapted to receive a lock-set member and with a slot communicating with said pocket, a lock-set member, and a cam-slide Within the said slot adapted to engage said lock-set member, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

30. A lock for vertical-plane car-couplers, said lock provided With a channel and with inclined guidevvays adapted to receive an emergency releaser member, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

31. A lock for vertical-plane car-couplers, said lock provided with a pocket adapted to receive a look-set member and with a slot communicating with said pocket, said slot being adapted to receive a lock-set release member, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

32. A lock for vertical-piane car-couplers, said lock provided with means adapted to pivotally engage an emergency releaser-lever and With a bifurcating channel adapted to receive such emergency releaser-lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

33. A knuckle for vertical-plane couplers having a knuckle-pin hole, a projection upon the upper surface of the tail thereof, and a projecting locking-face of Washer form adapted to stand back of a portion of the iockingpin when in a locked position, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 6th day or' October, 1904.

WILLIAM MCCGNWAY, JR.

W'itnesses:

SAMUEL L. DUFF, GEO. W. MoCANDLEss. 

